Sunday, April 19, 2009

I love my church. Today Jim Laffoon (one of our pastors)preached on "A HOMELESS GOD" and how God is looking to reside inside our hearts. He also said that most people in the world don't want God to reside inside of them on God's terms. It was a convicting sermon. Mainly, for me there were aspects that tied into the issue of choice. He referred to John 14:23 (here is John 14:14-23):

John 14:14-23 (New International Version)

14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit 15"If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[a] in you. 18I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

22Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?"

23Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

Several things stick out to me regarding, abortion, the world, choices. Mainly, God wants to give to His children. But obedience through submission appears to be the one repetitive attribute that honors God. THe world is consumed with the ways of the serpent. As we reside in the world we can be consumed by it and be tempted to WANT the riches of the world. God is telling us to ask and He will give. Why do we want what is in the world? Why did Judas desire God to be shown to the world and not to HIM? God wants us to desire Him. Because He knows through Him we can be complete, fulfilled and empowered by the Holy Spirit living in us. Still, we are constantly faced with choices. There are always only two. Pastor Jim said that Christianity isn't complex but it is costly. Our choice is redemption in Christ or Destruction through the enemy. The world or the treasures of heaven. When I was faced with my CHOICE, i had little faith and didn't believe God would love me and protect and care for me. I chose destruction. Many women chose destruction. People say all the time how difficult the decision is to choose life for your baby or the abortion. I know it is difficult but it is only difficult because we refuse to obey and believe in the power of God. The decision of LIFE isn't complex but to an 18 year old girl who may pay the cost by losing her boyfriend, job, school and independence the choice of life seems costly. Being oblivious to God and consumed by the world can be an easier choice. It seems ironic that the path to destruction actually is in some ways a smoother path to walk but it is at times. When we walk with God or allow Him to reside in us we have to be willing to be refined by Him. That means reliance, dependence, trust, submission and faith. THis is something I didn't have. It is something that I am constantly working on. But I praise Him for clarity in the past several years. Our lives, whether it be about choosing to have an abortion, an affair, do drugs, drink until we are drunk, steal, murder, curse, be promiscuous are about making a decision every day to choose the redemptive Holy path or destruction.....Love is a verb...redemption, righteousness can be ours through HIM. The temptations will persist as long as we are in the world but we can be aware that the devil will dangle anything in front of us to pull us away from God. It is our choice to hang onto OUR FATHER for dear life even when the world and its leaders are tempting us away from eternity.

DIARY OF CONFESSION

8/1/08 I tell my 17 year old daughter. She starts telling me about people she knows that have had abortions. This starts an entirely new level of intimacy with us.8/6 Tell my girlfriend Beth in NC8/15 Confess to my Pastors and Pregnancy Support Services Personnel8/17 Talk to my friend Sandy8/27 Tell my Stepfather Barney8/29 Tell my mother9/1 Talk to my sister Denise and tell my friend Lori which means all of NC knows9/1 Let my friend Renee, Teresa, and Eileen know9/4 Talked to my Sister Debbie9/7 Told my sister Donna...Now I believe I am officially OUT and just happy to get my story told....